Mozambique: in Cabo Delgado, "the situation is critical", warns the UNHCR
Food distribution organized by a local NGO in a refuge in Pemba in Cabo Delgado, April 19, 2021. AP
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3 min
While the humanitarian situation remains critical in Cabo Delgado after the terrorist attacks in Palma, the financial means to help the displaced are lacking.
Yet Pemba, the capital of this northernmost province of Mozambique, continues to receive displaced people who, after a journey strewn with pitfalls, are seeking help.
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With our special correspondent in Cabo Delgado,
Liliane Henriques
Critical situation in the extreme northeast of Mozambique.
It has been almost two months since the city of Palma, in Cabo Delgado, was attacked by jihadists.
Although the Mozambican army claims to have regained control of the city, the feeling of insecurity persists and the exodus continues.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), between 20,000 and 30,000 people are in hiding and it is impossible to rescue them, while nearly 700,000 displaced depend on humanitarian aid.
"
The majority [of the refugees, Editor's note] are in Cabo Delgado in the urban area,"
explains Francesca Fontanini, communications manager for the UNHCR office in Mozambique.
They represent around 90
%.
And the other 10
% are in IDP camps outside the urban area of Pemba.
The situation is critical.
It is a humanitarian tragedy.
They really come with nothing.
They don't have food or a place to sleep.
They arrive with major health problems.
They are completely traumatized.
"
Difficulties in mobilizing donors
The situation is all the more complicated for children who have had to flee and whose school career is interrupted. “
In addition,”
she continues, “
you have to think about the children, because the children have interrupted school several times and you have to think about providing an education all the same. And a job too, because these people are completely dependent on the international community. [...] 43
% of people coming from Palma are unaccompanied children. So we can say that we have almost half of refugees who are children.
"
Despite the situation, raising funds for Mozambique is difficult.
For Francesca Fontanini, the response of the donors is not sufficient: “
We have a serious problem, it is the response of the donors.
It's not sufficient.
Even the appeal we launched to humanitarian workers in December, for all the partners working in Cabo Delgado, it is only funded for the 10
%.
So if there is not really an intervention on the part of the international community, the donors, it is really difficult to meet the needs of this population.
"
►Also read: Mozambique security crisis: new illegal trafficking routes in Cabo Delgado
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Mozambique
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